Judges: Collaboration needed on voting maps

Posted:
Tuesday, March 27, 2012 11:00 AM EDT

MADISON (AP) -

A federal court is asking the parties in a lawsuit over two Milwaukee voting districts to collaborate in drawing new boundaries.

At issue is two districts that a panel of federal judges ruled last week violates the Voting Rights Act. The judges agreed with plaintiffs who said the newly drawn boundaries split up a Hispanic voting bloc, weakening their power to elect Latino candidates.

The lawsuit was filed against the state elections board.

The judges asked the Legislature to redraw the two districts but lawmakers declined. So the court is asking both parties to the lawsuit to work together and try to reach agreement by April 2. If they can't agree on a new map, they are to submit their own recommendations to the court by April 3.